Localized Chemical Lysis of Ocular Tissue

Abstract

A high-intensity pulsed-electrical-field (HIPEF) apparatus chemically induces lysis of ocular tissue within a localized portion of an eye. Instead of broadly applying a lysis affecting solution (e.g., plasmin) to the eye, the apparatus delivers solution to only a portion of the eye. The apparatus then alters the effectiveness of at least some of the solution delivered by applying a HIPEF to that solution. In some embodiments, for example, the apparatus delivers a solution that does not substantially affect lysis of ocular tissue and then enhances the solution's effectiveness by applying a HIPEF. As the apparatus applies the HIPEF with high precision, the HIPEF only enhances the effectiveness of the solution within select and localized portions of the eye. The apparatus is especially advantageous for vitreoretinal surgery, whereby the apparatus may selectively induce lysis of vitreous tissue within a localized portion of the vitreous cavity, without significantly affecting adjacent retinal tissue.

1 . A method for chemically inducing lysis of ocular tissue within a localized portion of an eye during eye surgery, the method comprising:
 delivering a lysis affecting solution to ocular tissue within a portion of an eye; and   altering the effectiveness of at least some of the lysis affecting solution within said portion by applying a high-intensity pulsed electrical field to said at least some solution, using a high-intensity pulsed-electrical-field (HIPEF) probe.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein delivering a lysis affecting solution comprises delivering an enzymatic agent that chemically induces lysis of ocular tissue. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying a high-intensity pulsed electric field to said at least some solution, using a high-intensity pulsed-electrical-field (HIPEF) probe, comprises generating the high-intensity pulsed electric field based on the chemical properties of the lysis affecting solution. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein altering the effectiveness of the lysis affecting solution by applying a high-intensity pulsed electrical field to solution within said portion of the eye comprises enhancing the effectiveness of at least some of the lysis affecting solution within said portion by applying a high-intensity pulsed electrical field to said at least some solution. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein altering the effectiveness of the lysis affecting solution by applying a high-intensity pulsed electrical field to solution within said portion of the eye comprises suppressing the effectiveness at least some of the lysis affecting solution within said portion by applying a high-intensity pulsed electrical field to said at least some solution. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein delivering a lysis affecting solution to ocular tissue within a portion of an eye comprises:
 surrounding the ocular tissue with the HIPEF probe;   drawing the ocular tissue into a distal orifice of the HIPEF probe via aspiration vacuum; and   delivering the lysis affecting solution to the distal orifice of the probe via an irrigation channel in the HIPEF probe.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein delivering a lysis affecting solution to ocular tissue within a portion of an eye comprises delivering the lysis affecting solution to the ocular tissue via a cannula independent from the HIPEF probe. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising removing lysed ocular tissue from said portion of the eye by aspiration. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein delivering a lysis affecting solution comprises delivering plasmin. 
     
     
         10 . A high-intensity pulsed-electrical-field (HIPEF) apparatus for chemically inducing lysis of ocular tissue within a localized portion of an eye during eye surgery, the HIPEF apparatus comprising:
 an irrigation system configured to deliver a lysis affecting solution to ocular tissue within a portion of an eye; and   a HIPEF probe configured to alter the effectiveness of at least some of the lysis affecting solution within said portion by applying a high-intensity pulsed electrical field to said at least some solution.   
     
     
         11 . The HIPEF apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the irrigation system is configured to deliver an enzymatic agent that chemically induces lysis of ocular tissue. 
     
     
         12 . The HIPEF apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the HIPEF probe is configured to generate the high-intensity pulsed electric field based on the chemical properties of the lysis affecting solution. 
     
     
         13 . The HIPEF apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the HIPEF probe is configured to enhance the effect of at least some of the lysis affecting solution within said portion by applying the high-intensity pulsed electrical field to said at least some solution. 
     
     
         14 . The HIPEF apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the HIPEF probe is configured to suppress the effect of at least some of the lysis affecting solution within said portion by applying the high-intensity pulsed electrical field to said at least some solution. 
     
     
         15 . The HIPEF apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the HIPEF probe is configured to surround the ocular tissue within said portion of the eye and to draw that ocular tissue into a distal orifice of the HIPEF probe via aspiration vacuum, and wherein the irrigation system comprises an irrigation channel in the HIPEF probe that is configured to deliver the lysis affecting solution to the distal orifice of the HIPEF probe. 
     
     
         16 . The HIPEF apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the irrigation system comprises a cannula independent from the HIPEF probe. 
     
     
         17 . The HIPEF apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising an aspiration system configured to remove lysed ocular tissue from said portion of the eye by aspiration. 
     
     
         18 . The HIPEF apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the irrigation system is configured to deliver plasmin.